Teen triumphs in dance competition

HCM CITY (VNS) — Nineteen-year-old student Son Lam was crowned the winner of the third season of the Vietnamese version of So You Think You Can Dance on Saturday.

The final was held in Ho Chi Minh City, where Son Lam overcame his fellow finalists namely Pham Lich, Son Lam, Xuan Thao and Duc Tien following 30-second solo performances.

The prize was decided by members of the public, who had 30 minutes to vote for their favourite dancer via text message.

Lam claimed 35.45 per cent of vote, followed by Duc Tien, Pham Lich and Xuan Thao.

"This is too much for me," Lam said after receiving the prize.

"Tomorrow, when I wake up, I will feel more pressure and I will have to work harder."

Lam is a student from the HCM City-based FPT Arena University, and has shown his potential over the last six months of the competition.

He's the third male dancer to win the contest after Lam Vinh Hai and Ngoc Thinh.

Lam said he had practised hip hop for around five years. He first followed clips on the internet with his friends, and then he joined a club at the Friendship Culture Palace.

"Two professional dancers from the X-Clown dance group were invited to my university to train our group. They inspired me," he recalled.

Lam confessed he did not receive any support from his family, but he was still free to follow his passion.

"I have also lost a lot of friends because all of my free time is spent on dancing," he said. That's also a reason why he did not have much support during the contest.

The dancer, nicknamed Bim, has become one of the top performers in HCM City, winning 14 titles since 2011, including Original Gangstaz held in Singapore in 2013, First Of The Year Freestyle Solo 2014, Time To Shine 2014 and Level Up 2014.

Last year, Lam decided to take the entrance exam to join the Urban Dance Group directed by John Huy. Since then, he has got used to the pressure and more diverse types of dance.

"I did not set out to win the top prize, but I want to overcome as many challenges as possible," he said.

"I have to conquer even form of dance that I'm not used to, and the only way to do that is by practising hard."

"The audience watched Lam emerge as an outstanding competitor in the opening rounds," commented Nguyen Hai, production director of the contest.